The prostate gland is the plague of men over 50. For reasons that remain unclear but appear to involve the male sex hormone testosterone, this walnut-sized gland, which sits below the bladder and produces much of the fluid in semen, grows larger as men age. Doctors call the condition Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH). BPH becomes a problem because the urethra, the tube that carries urine, runs through the prostate. As the gland grows larger, it eventually pinches the urethra, leading to several annoying symptoms: reduced urine flow, urinary urgency, urinary hesitancy, and frequent wake-ups for bathroom visits during the night.
For a long time, the only way to relieve BPH symptoms was surgically in an operation called a TURP (trans-urethral resection of the prostate). Then pharmaceuticals were developed which were effective but expensive and had unpleasant side effects. All this time, there had been a botanical medicine used for decades by Native Americans that took care of this problem but had not caught the attention of medical researchers. Now it has and it's berries hold the power. Saw Palmetto (Serenoa Repens) is available for those who need it!
From the front page of Dr. Ray Sahelian's book about Saw Palmetto, we find these testimonials:
"Saw Palmetto is unbelievable. I get very consistent results. Older men say their frequency at night drops from 3 or 4 to one." Michael Janson MD, President of the American College for the Advancement of Medicine.
"My top choice for treating BPH is Saw Palmetto ... The longest I've had a person on Saw Palmetto is four years and there's been no side effects reported." Donald Brown ND, author of Herbal Prescriptions for Better Health.
The historical use of Saw Palmetto reaches back to 'American Eclectic' physicians who learned about the use of the berry from Native Americans and incorporated it into their own pharmacopoeia. The Eclectics established the Eclectic Medical Institute in Cincinnati at the turn of the century and published information on botanical medicine in the Eclectic Medical Journal. The Eclectics used this native flora specifically for disorders of the reproductive organs. They also used it as a general tonic for nutritional support of all bodily systems because they discovered that it helps build new tissue and restore function. Their main interest rested, however, in the herb's use for such prostate problems as prostatitis.
Prostatitis is the term used when the prostate gland is inflamed but it doesn't specify the cause of inflammation. There are two major categories of prostatitis: infectious and non-infectious. Infectious prostatitis is caused by a virus, bacteria, or other organism. The choice of therapy would therefore depend on the type of organism causing the problem.
Non-infectious prostatitis means the prostate gland is inflamed but there's no organism responsible for it. A physician would have to rule out all possibilities before arriving at this diagnosis. Studies with Saw Palmetto in the therapy of non-infectious prostatitis are limited but have shown potential in reducing inflammatory responses.
Modern day researchers discovered a waxy substance in the Saw Palmetto Berry that affected testosterone. Studies showed that Saw Palmetto Berry extract helps treat BPH. It significantly increases urine output by shrinking overgrown prostate tissue. In addition, a 1992 study showed that Saw Palmetto also has an independent anti-inflammatory action that might also play a role in its effects on the prostate.
It is interesting how Saw Palmetto compounds find their way around the body to relieve an enlarged prostate. When you take this botanical, it goes into the gastrointestinal tract, is absorbed from the intestines and make its way to the blood in about an hour or two. It stays in the blood for a few hours. During this time, a number of compounds will make their way to various parts of the body including skin, hair follicles, genital tissues, and the prostate. Studies have shown that higher concentrations of Saw Palmetto are eventually found in the prostate gland as compared to other tissues.
Long-term human studies evaluating Saw Palmetto and its role in cancer have not been done. One of the few clues we have about the influence of some of the compounds found within Saw Palmetto on tumor cells comes from a 1997 study done at Purdue University in Indiana. Dr. Varro Tyler, known for his many books on herbal therapies, with other researchers isolated two compounds from Saw Palmetto Berries called mono-laurin and mono-myristin. These compounds showed moderate activity against certain prostatic cancer cells. Dr. Jerry McLaughlin, one of the Purdue team, says "Theoretically, there is a possibility that Saw Palmetto may protect against cancer but unless actual human studies are done, we're not going to know for sure. There are countless compounds within nature that have anti-tumour activities. The National Cancer Institute has shown some interest in examining many old compounds and molecules in nature that may have good applications."
Saw Palmetto has come a long way and more research is being carried out every day investigating its use. So whether you are interested in it as a tonic or for its more specific use reducing an enlarged prostate, this potent botanical is readily available for your use.
By Kahlee Keane, Herbalist
Saw Palmetto And Prostate Enlargement
